Poem #289
English Translation
Persian
Her cheek is beauty's gathering-place, a moon of grace and light
But love and faith she does not know—O God, set her aright!
مَجمَعِ خوبی و لطف است عِذار چو مَهَش
لیکَنَش مِهر و وفا نیست، خدایا بِدَهَش
My love is but a playful child, a witness to my woe
She'll kill me in her games one day, and no sin will it show.
دلبرم شاهد و طفل است و به بازی روزی
بِکُشد زارم و در شرع نباشد گُنَهَش
I'd better guard my heart from her, and keep it safe and sound
For she knows neither good nor bad, in her indifference bound.
من همان بِه که از او نیک نگه دارم دل
که بد و نیک ندیده‌ست و ندارد نِگَهَش
The scent of milk is on her lips, so sugary and sweet
Though blood drips from her dark eyes' glance, where love and murder meet.
بویِ شیر از لبِ همچون شِکَرَش می‌آید
گرچه خون می‌چکد از شیوهٔ چشمِ سیَهَش
I have a fourteen-year-old love, an idol sweet and spry
Whose fourteen-day-moon beauty holds my soul in slavery.
چارده ساله بُتی چابُکِ شیرین دارم
که به جان حلقه به گوش است مَهِ چاردَهَش
Where has my heart gone, O Lord, in search of that new rose?
I haven't seen it for some days, and God knows where it goes!
از پِی آن گُلِ نورُستِه دلِ ما یارب
خود کجا شد که ندیدیم در این چند گَهَش؟
If my beloved breaks my heart with such a careless fling
The King himself will take her life for such a cruel thing.
یارِ دلدارِ من ار قلب بدین سان شِکَنَد
بِبَرَد زود به جانداریِ خود پادشهَش
I'll give my soul in gratitude if that rare pearl of grace
Will make the shell of Hafez's chest its final resting-place.
جان به شکرانه کنم صرف گَر آن دانهٔ دُر
صدفِ سینهٔ حافظ بُوَد آرامگَهَش
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses devotion and longing. The verse about the beloved being 'witness and child' and 'may kill poor me' and 'in the law, will not be the sin of it' is a powerful statement. The observation that 'the fragrance of milk comes from the lip like sugar' although 'blood drips from the manner of the black eye' is a striking image. The poem's combination of devotion and emotional expression makes it very engaging.
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